: Not Died in Vain

Ning Zhuo held his cup, took a light sip, and smiled at the Ning family head. "Honored Head, don't you wish for your son to return to the family?"

The Ning family head was stunned.

He had never expected these words to come from Ning Zhuo's mouth.

After all, it was Ning Zhuo who had brought Ning Xiaoren down!

Based on the family head's understanding, Ning Zhuo should harbor intense dislike for Ning Xiaoren. Why would he say such a thing?

The Ning family head was shocked.

At this moment, he suddenly saw a part of Ning Zhuo's true nature!

This young man before him was well-versed in the ways of the righteous path; he was the same type of person as himself.

What kind of person?

Ruthless to the point of being unfeeling, prioritizing利益 over personal emotions!

Or rather, the emotions he displayed outwardly were merely masks, disguises tailored to suit his personal利益!

The Ning family head believed he had seen Ning Zhuo's essence.

Thus, he showed an unprecedented seriousness.

For the first time, he treated Ning Zhuo as an equal and engaged with him gravely.

"Xiaoren..." The family head mentioned his son, a touch of tenderness appearing on his face. "I do wish for his return. But how can I trust that you can bring him back?"

Ning Zhuo's expression remained impassive. "Since I could bring him down, naturally, I can also bring him back."

"Wasn't he trying to align himself with me some time ago?"

"I can agree to this, let him work by my side, do things for me. Given my current status, arranging some tasks for him, giving him some credit, isn't that simple?"

"When the time comes, I will personally announce to everyone that Ning Xiaoren has turned over a new leaf and has gained my forgiveness. Then, his political stain will be cleansed."

"You see, what a perfect plan. In all the world, only I alone can accomplish this."

"I believe this is also a scenario that Ancestor Ning Jiufan would be pleased to see."

"After all, our branch and your main line are both named Ning, one family."

Hearing Ning Zhuo, who had been pushing for separation, say this, the Ning family head scoffed inwardly. "What sheer shamelessness!"

After a moment of contemplation, the family head slowly nodded, his expression沉重.

The family head departed, leaving Ning Zhuo alone in the room.

"Separation, separation..." He sighed deeply in his heart.

He always brought up this idea whenever he had the chance; it wasn't just idle talk.

Sects have soul lamps, nations have registries, alliances have covenants, and families naturally have means to约束 their members.

When a new child is born into the family, the cut umbilical cord is used to create a bloodline umbilical cord artifact, stored under strict guard in the ancestral hall.

After the infant is named, heart blood, tongue-tip blood, and foot blood are used to inscribe the name into the family registry.

These are just two primary常规 methods; there are more powerful约束手段.

That would be the ancestors in the underworld!

This world is divided into two sides: the yang world and the yin world.

The yang world is where Ning Zhuo resides, with its rising sun and setting moon, wind and clouds, flora and fauna, full of vitality.

The yin world is teeming with ghosts, gloomy and dim, permeated with an aura of death.

The passage between the yin and yang worlds is called the Ghost Gate.

People have both yang lifespan and yin lifespan.

According to this world's natural order, when cultivators or mortals die, their souls return to the yin world, residing there for many days until their yin lifespan is exhausted,才算 truly vanishing.

To judge whether a family is a cultivation family, one looks not only at the scale of the clan in the yang world and the highest cultivation level but also at the scale and highest cultivation level of the ancestors in the yin world.

The Ning family is a genuine major cultivation clan. Despite their weak influence in the yang world, they are quite powerful in the yin world.

This is because sixteen years ago, when the Ning family migrated from the North Wind Kingdom, they sacrificed too many clan members, even Golden Core cultivators perished!

Their forces in the yin world received a significant boost.

The connection between the yin and yang worlds is strong.

The Ning family's annual grand ceremony, the addition of new后代, or funerals all involve communication with the yin world.

Therefore, enforcing family rules and punishments upon members who violate them is not done lightly.

Ning Zhuo needed to obtain the authority to act autonomously.

Without it, this would become a vulnerability in his future actions.

If the family seized upon this vulnerability and pursued it, it would mean big trouble.

Even if Ning Zhuo didn't die, he would likely be severely punished.

Now, through利益 exchange, the Ning family head had relented and agreed to this matter. The various family elders, controlled by other factions of the main line, had also been persuaded by Ning Zhuo using the matter of Ning Xiaohui's grandmother.

Ning Zhuo then summoned Ning Xiangguo, Ning Xiangqian, Ning Ze, Ning Chen, Ning Yong, and others.

He had barely begun speaking when Ning Ze directly interrupted him: "What? Spare the murderer, let her go back?!"

"I disagree!"

"I absolutely disagree!!"

Ning Ze couldn't sit still, standing up directly: "Ning Zhuo, Ning Ji was your cousin, you grew up together."

"Now, he's been murdered!"

"Yet you want to compromise with the main line, release the murderer, and return her to them?"

"If Ji'er knew in the afterlife, what would he think of you?"

"I've supported you fully until now, the Ning family branch has supported you to this extent; your backbone can't go soft now!"

Ning Ze had originally had no worries, knowing the deep矛盾 between Ning Zhuo and the main line. Who would have thought that the first words out of Ning Zhuo's mouth at this meeting would hit him like a bolt from the blue.

Ning Ze couldn't understand why Ning Zhuo's attitude towards the main line had changed so drastically and so quickly!

"Little Zhuo, by doing this, how can you face Ning Ji, how can you face us, how can you face the family branch that supports you?!"

Ning Ze lamented, trying every means, invoking various reasons to pressure Ning Zhuo into changing his mind and retracting his decision.

Ning Xiangguo and the others also looked at Ning Zhuo, their gazes questioning.

Ning Yong opened his mouth to speak but was stopped by Ning Chen, who pressed his arm.

Ning Zhuo sighed deeply. "Uncle, please sit."

"I can't sit! Little Zhuo, give me a straight answer, right now!" Ning Ze was very agitated.

Ning Zhuo stopped looking at him, scanning the room instead, his expression沉重, tone steady. "Of course, I am worthy of you all, worthy of the Ning family branch."

"My cousin is dead; I am deeply grieved. I believe that in this world, besides Uncle and Aunt, I am the one who most wants to punish the murderer severely."

"I wish I could split Ning Xiaohui's grandmother in two right now!"

"But at this critical moment, I thought of another aspect."

"I am not alone; I am the hope of the Ning family branch, the future standard-bearer. Seeking revenge is merely my personal desire."

"But if I, to vent my personal desire, sour the relationship between the branch and main line, at such a critical time, it would inevitably be exploited by enemies!"

"Don't you agree?"

Ning Zhuo paused, looking around at everyone in the hall.

Ning Xiangguo was the first to nod. "Indeed, Young Master Zhuo's consideration is thorough. At this stage, it's the critical moment for the palace exam. In fact, this matter has already consumed much of your energy and time, which is highly inappropriate. We indeed should not act rashly."

Others also showed agreement.

Ning Ze said indignantly, "Even so, we could simply imprison the murderer; there's no need to send her back, right?"

Ning Zhuo sighed. "That brings me to the second reason, and the most important one."

"I have used this matter to reach an agreement with important factions of the Ning main line, and also with the Ning family head."

"I will release the murderer and simultaneously recruit Ning Xiaoren to work under me. In the future, I will publicly announce reconciliation, helping him return to the family."

"And what we gain is the unanimous decision of the family head and elders—to grant me the authority to separate the family."

This caused an uproar.

Everyone was shocked, a few exclaiming aloud: "Separation?!"

After recovering, Ning Xiangqian, Ning Yong, and others urgently asked.

"Is this true? Did I hear correctly?"

"If we really separate, that would be fantastic!"

"To think Young Master Zhuo quietly accomplished such a great feat! Wonderful, wonderful!"

Only Ning Ze stood still as a statue, rooted to the spot, eyes wide,死死 staring at Ning Zhuo, fists clenched, speechless.

Family separation was no simple matter; it was quite rare.

A family is a small state, a state is a large family. The分裂 of a state is a major event. Separation, for a family, is also a major event!

After separation, a family is bound to enter a period of decline.

However, the separated clan members can establish a new foothold and start a new foundation.

Everyone has enormous room for advancement.

Ning Zhuo's branch would leap out, becoming the head of the separated family.

Ning Xiangguo, Ning Xiangqian, and others could potentially become elders of the new family.

Juniors like Ning Chen and Ning Yong, who were close to Ning Zhuo, would receive focused resource allocation from the new family and might even become elders in the future.

As for the resources of the separated family, not to mention others.

Just consider that each祭祀 could be conducted in the name and capacity of the family head and elders, communicating with ancestors in the yin world for great收益.

In contrast, before separation, people like Ning Xiangguo couldn't even become family stewards.

Seeing everyone's faces light up with joy, Ning Zhuo sighed deeply. "Although I wish I could kill Ning Xiaohui's grandmother immediately, for the greater good, for the future of us all, I am willing to suppress my personal desire, endure the pain, and make this decision. I hope you can understand and support me."

Everyone in the hall was immediately moved.

"Boss, I knew you were deeply principled. That Ning Ji was corrupt during his life, bullying others under your name. Many people complained to you, but you always shielded him. You must want to tear the murderer apart; I understand you!" Ning Yong said first.

Ning Chen sighed deeply. "Boss, you've sacrificed too much, borne too heavy a burden. I misunderstood you earlier; I was wrong! Now I realize your good intentions; I was mistaken!!"

Ning Xiangguo stood up and bowed to Ning Zhuo. "Family Head, please instruct us on what to do next. I am at your service!"

Upon hearing this, everyone looked sideways.

Ning Chen thought, "I've learned something, I've learned something."

Ning Zhuo let out a breath, nodding slightly. "I am greatly comforted by your support and understanding."

"Uncle, what are your thoughts?"

Ning Ze had been standing呆滞 for quite some time.

Hearing Ning Zhuo's question, he chuckled softly, looked at Ning Zhuo, then scanned the room.

The joys and sorrows of people are not shared.

Seeing the faint joy around him, Ning Ze, filled with the pain of losing his son, felt desolate. He felt out of place.

While others were celebrating, he was in an icy wasteland, as if abandoned by the world.

Finally, Ning Ze's gaze settled on Ning Zhuo.

Not long ago, he had used righteousness, representing the Ning branch, to pressure Ning Zhuo, forcing him to seek revenge for Ning Ji.

But now, after Ning Zhuo lightly tossed out the bait of separation, the entire Ning branch was tempted to madness. Who would care about the death of a mere Qi Refining junior?

Ning Ze's voice was hoarse. "Ning Zhuo, your cousin's death was used by you as a bargaining chip, a tool to gain利益!"

"What else can I say?"

"What is there left to say?"

"I am just chilled, utterly chilled."

"Farewell, farewell."

After speaking, Ning Ze left without looking back.

Ning Zhuo quickly stood up, wanting to挽回, but Ning Ze left resolutely, his back hunched.

Ning Zhuo stood at the door, watching Ning Ze leave, lamenting sorrowfully. "Time spares no one; my uncle has aged so much."

"I have failed him! Everyone, my heart is heavy."

"Did I do wrong or right? I'm not sure anymore."

Ning Xiangqian and others quickly gathered around, speaking over each other, affirming Ning Zhuo's actions, and praising his sacrifice and dedication.

"For the sake of the entire family branch, you have borne too much!" Ning Xiangqian said.

"Yes, Family Head," Ning Chen said.

Ning Xiangguo couldn't help but glance at Ning Chen, offering comfort. "Ning Ze is understandable; after all, losing a child in middle age, having white hair send off black hair, is truly painful."

"However, I think he just hasn't figured it out yet."

"It's not like he can't have more children. When he comes around, he'll realize he's already part of the elder line, closest to your line, Family Head."

"Speaking功利ly, Ning Ji did not die in vain."

This resonated strongly with Ning Yong, who loudly agreed. "Yes, yes. Ning Ji did not die in vain!"

Ning Zhuo finally instructed, "You must take good care of my uncle and aunt."

"I am occupied with the palace exam and cannot attend to it myself; I leave it to you."

The others quickly assented.

(End of )